For many, paper towels have become a ‘can’t live without them’ item. From kitchens to bathrooms, you could probably find a roll of paper towels in almost every home in America. But how did they become so indispensable?

WHAT ARE PAPER TOWELS MADE OF?

PAPER TOWEL MANUFACTURING WITH BIODEGRADABLE ADHESIVE

Non-toxic, water-based adhesives play a big part in paper towel manufacturing. How the sheets of paper are adhered together is the secret to paper towel absorbency!

Paper towel manufacturing begins with the creation of paper pulp. Once the pulp is cleaned and bleached, it is processed using a drying cylinder, often called a Yankee dryer. The dryer dries out the paper pulp on a roller and then scrapes the paper down to the desired thickness for each sheet.

The magic happens during the scrapping process. Water-based glue is sprayed on the roller so that some of the pulp can not be scraped away. This thin layer left behind becomes one of the two or multiple sheets of paper that will form the finished paper towel. The next step in paper towel manufacturing can follow one of two procedures: creping and embossing.

Creping with Protein Adhesive

Creping with adhesive gives the paper flexibility and creates open areas for water absorption. The internal micro-fold structure creping creates is essential to allow the paper towel to absorb and hold moisture.

Embossing Papers Towels

Embossing creates the effect of having multiple sheets of soft tissue paper with spaces in between the layers, like a quilt. The top of the towel is modified using a shaped surface as opposed to the flat working surface. This process creates raised areas in the flat background of the soft tissue paper, and these open spaces can absorb and hold water.

INTERESTING FACTS TO ABSORB

• Manufacturers often emboss diamonds or circles on paper towels to improve absorption.
• Paper towels are consumed the most by Americans.
• Paper towels are the second most used product in the tissue industry.
• To improve the wet strength of a paper towel, the resin side of the towel is used.
• Paper towel manufacturers use both protein and plant-derived adhesives depending on the application.
• Paper towels are prized for being sanitary and easy-to-dispose of.